Thomas william jinkins



(No Modem T. W. JINKINS.

FENCE WIRE TIGH TENER.

No. 410,283; Patented Sept. 3, 1889.

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UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS l/VILLIAM JINKINS, OF SHERMAN, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLIE F. DAVIS, OF SAME PLACE.

FENCE-WIRE TIGHTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,283, dated September 3, 1889.,

Application filed May 15, 1889- Serial No. 310,838. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS WILLIAM JIN- KINs,a citizen of the United States, residing at Sherman, in the county of Grayson and State of Texas, have inventeda new and useful Device for Tightening the Wires of a Wire Fence, of which the following isa specification.

Thisinvention relates to devices for tightening the wires of a wire fence whetherinthe act of building the latter or after'ithas been put up and the wire is stretched thereon; and the invention consists of a metallic lever-arm adapted to be seated and to turn in a hole in the fence-post, and upon whose body the wire is tightened as the arm is revolved, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a portion of this specification, and in which the same letters of reference are applied to corresponding parts throughout, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a fence, showing oneend post and several intermediate posts, upon which fence are mounted longitudinal fence-wires, shown with my improved crank-arm in the act of tightening the same. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail view of the crank arm adapted to be used 011 the end post or on any post if applied when the fence is being built. Fig. 3 is a similar View of my crank-arm in the form which is adapted to be applied to fences whereon thewires are already stretched. Fig. 4 is a further enlarged perspective view of one of the crank-arms illustrated in Fig. 2, showing the manner in which the wire is coiled thereon.

Referring by letter to the drawings, P represents the posts of the ordinary fence, and P is one of the end posts of the fence sustained in vertical position by the inclined brace B.

W are coiled, fiat, twisted, ribbon, or barbed wires stretched longitudinally upon the posts and secured thereto by staples S, all as is common in the building of fences of this character.

When it is desired to build a wire fence,

and to employ in the building thereof my imfences which are already built I use the form ceptin the details hereinafter specified, and

are composed of stout wrought-iron rods of a size proportionate to the size and length of the wires to be tightened.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 2, L is a shank, and projecting rearwardly from one end is the crank J, adapted to be journaled and to revolve within an auger-hole bored horizontally into the end or corner fence-post. At the other end of the shank the metal body is bent into a hook H, about of the form shown,'and for a purpose hereinafter set forth. In the bend or elbow between the shank L and the crank J is a transverse hole E, of a. size adapted to receive the fence-Wire.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 3, L is the shank, J the crank, and H the hook, all being precisely the same as in the other form. In this case, however, instead of the hole E at the elbowI provide a slot E ,preferably opening in direct alignment with the center of the crank J and of a size adapted to receive the fence-wire.

In operation, as has been above stated, the

lever-arm with the hole E is used on end or corner posts, where the free end of the wire may be readily inserted in said hole; or, if the lever-arm is to be used as the fence is being built, this form may be employed and the wire can be passed bodily through said hole, (unless it be barbed wire) and slipped thereon until any n umber of the lever-arms L have been strung on the wire throughoutits length. The wire is then drawn moderately tight and secured by staples S to nearly all of the posts, after which the leVer-arms-L at the end and one or two intermediate posts are turned, whereby their cranks J revolve within the, post and the wire is wound thereon. When the desired degree of tension has been imparted to the wire, the hook H is engaged therewith, as seen in Fig.1, and the lever-arm is thereby prevented from automatically turning backward to loosen the wire. ff, however, the fence-wires are already stretched and secured at their ends and at intermediate points by staples S, and it is desired to em- W the desired degree of tension has been im-' ploy my improved lever-arm for tightening the same, one of the staples S on an intermediate post is withdrawn, the wire is deflected, an auger-hole is bored in the post, and the crank J of the lever-arm L is inserted in said auger-hole. The body of the fence-wire is then engaged in the slot E, which can evidently be easily done Without cutting the wire, and the device is ready for use. The shank of the lever-arm being grasped by the operator, the device is turned, whereby the crank J revolves within the post and the wire is wound thereon in the manner shown in Fig. 4. When parted to the wire, the hook H is engaged therewith in the same manner as above described, and the lever-arm is thereby prevented from automaticallyturning backward to loosen the wire.

Anydesired number of lever-arms L" can be used throughout the length of the fence, and in addition thereto the lever-arms L may be used on the end or corner posts, all as will be clearly obvious to a person skilled in the construction of Wire fences.

I claimas the salient points of my in vention- 1. The herein described wire -tightener,

formed of a single piece of material and consisting of the intermediate shank portion L, bent at an angle at one end to form a plain crank which is adapted to be journaled in the fence-post, and having a notch or aperture to receive the fence-wire, the other end being bent at an angle in the same direction as the crank and terminating in a curved wire-embracing hook, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a fence-post provided with an opening and a wire crossing the same, of the herein-described tightener consisting of the intermediate shank L, terminating at its rear in a crank J at a right an- 'gle to the shank, mounted in the opening and provided with an opening through which the wire is passed, and at its other end bent at a right angle to the shank and crank and terminating in a. hook adapted to engage the wire, substantially as specified.

In test'imony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS WILLIAM JINKINS'. 

